Detection of Leptomonas sp. parasites in clinical isolates of Kala-azar patients from India

We report here nine unusual cases of Kala-azar, of which parasites were isolated and found by 18S rRNA gene sequencing to be most similar to Leptomonas species. One of these isolates was used to inoculate Balb/c mice; organs were collected and directly submitted to a genus-specific rDNA-ITS1 PCR analysis: this revealed the presence of both Leptomonas sp. and Leishmania donovani. Therefore, we conclude that there was a mixed infection of Leptomonas sp. and L. donovani in this isolate. We consider that mixed infection may be present in the patients themselves, Leptomonas persisting in them because of the immuno-suppression associated with Kala-azar.